He has been charged with 15 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and five counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Cleveland County Sheriff's Office Capt. Joel Shores said further investigation resulted in the additional charges.

“The investigation originated with Gaston police and moved its way up to the FBI,” Shores previously told The Star. “After conducting an investigation, we found he lived in Cleveland County and the sheriff’s office got involved.”

He has been charged with 15 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and five counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Cleveland County Sheriff's Office Capt. Joel Shores said further investigation resulted in the additional charges.

“The investigation originated with Gaston police and moved its way up to the FBI,” Shores previously told The Star. “After conducting an investigation, we found he lived in Cleveland County and the sheriff’s office got involved.”

According to superior court indictments, the videos Bridges distributed or received contained girls about 4 to 6 years old engaging in sexual activity with an adult man and showing some of the children with duct tape over their mouths.

Other children, as young as 2 years old, were shown being raped, bound, and forced to perform and undergo sex acts on adult men, indictments state.

Multiple victims are listed.

Shores said a second-degree sexual exploitation charge involves the distribution and/or receiving of pornographic material involving minors, and a third-degree offense involves possession of the material.

Bridges is scheduled to appear in court today.

A second Cleveland County man was also arrested last month and charged with sexual exploitation.

Michael John Stark, 65, of 608 Grace St. in Shelby, was charged with eight counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and eight counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

He is being held at the Cleveland County Detention Center with a $500,000 bond.